At the panel discussion after the premiere of our 48 Hour Film “Brutality”, I was asked if Panchira Pictures would return next year. I gave a non-committal answer because I wasn’t sure how Dave felt about it. Upon further reflection, I can definitely say that we won’t be back.

I had some definite goals for this year’s film: I watched the 2005 Best of City Screener recently and noticed that all of the movies looked the same in one respect or another.  I wanted our movie to look different, and apparently we paid the price.

We take great pride in our editing: I believe there are more edits in Tale of the Toe than in all the other 48 Hour Films of that year combined.  Most 48 hour flicks are very static–even the obligatory chase scene is shot with very little camera movement.  I made sure there were no tripods on the set to prevent that look.  Dave and I even made sure there was a long tracking shot to keep the action moving.

All the other movies are almost unnaturally well lit, we used all natural lighting and got a nice gritty feel in the basement scene.  We also tried some innovative camera techniques to make things look more brutal, if you will.

Although I wrote the script and the film was shot in chronological order, I made a commitment to the reverse-timeline structure.  This may have also been a mistake as far as the Judging went.  I still stand behind my decision, but realize that some people may not get it.

It would seem to me, from watching the finalists on YouTube, that the organizers of the 48 Hour Film Project seem to have an idea of the type of film they want; it is also clear that we are not going to make that movie.

In addition, if you look at other Film Festivals, The 48 Hour Film Project is a very expensive proposition.   Most Film Fest entry fees are much lower, and we can take as long as we like to shoot and get it right.

There are various issues I have with selective enforcement of the rules on the part of the judges, and the fact that an out-of-state professional video production company comes here instead of Chicago to play big fish in a small pond, but not right now.  I have plays to direct, screenplays to write, and films to submit.

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